Health care has been thrown under the spotlight following the death of a newborn baby at Dundee Hospital.
DA to call on Health Ombudsman to probe baby death at Dundee Hospital.
The Democratic Alliance (DA) has called for an urgent and full investigation by the KwaZulu-Natal Health Ombudsman following the tragedy.
Dr Imran Keeka, local DA Member of the KZN Legislature, told the Courier that he had alerted senior officials.
In a statement, Dr Rishigen Viranna, the DA’s Health spokesman, said he had been ”reliably informed that the baby’s death is the result of a lack of proper treatment and care from labour ward nurses.”
“It is alleged that when the young mother arrived at the hospital, bleeding and in labour, she was not given any analgesia, nor was she offered any assistance. We were also informed that because she delivered alone, the baby fell onto the floor as there was no one there to help her. Unfortunately, her 24- week premature new born died shortly afterwards.
“The DA is both horrified and saddened by this information. We extend our sincere condolences to both the mother and her family at what must be an extremely sad time for them. The Department must immediately provide extensive counselling to the mother following this traumatic event.
“This incident at Dundee Hospital cannot be ignored and we call on KZN Health MEC, Nomagugu Simelane-Zulu to take immediate action to ensure that those nurses who were on duty in the labour ward are immediately suspended pending the outcome of an investigation.
“The DA remains extremely concerned by the ongoing numerous allegations of negligence by KZN health staff in labour wards. This is the third reported incident this year of a lack of midwifery care that has resulted in the death of a new born and psychological trauma to new mothers.”
The Courier has asked Dundee Hospital and KZN Health for a response which has been published here:
Health Department accuses DA of ‘point scoring’ following baby’s death
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